9 challenges hiring an ERP consultant can help with
Key takeaways
- Hiring an ERP consultant helps reduce the risk of costly ERP implementation failures
- Strong executive sponsorship and project governance are essential for success
- Simplifying processes before implementation reduces complexity and risk
- Effective communication and change management drive user adoption
- Proper testing, training and data preparation are critical for long-term value
9 biggest challenges to implementing an ERP system
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems help streamline processes, improve efficiencies and productivity, and provide a central database. However, whether you are replacing a legacy system or implementing something brand new, an ERP implementation is not straightforward.
This is where hiring an ERP consultant can make a critical difference. Effective ERP implementation and planning are crucial to ensure a smooth transition, but even with careful planning, ERP projects are complex and affect systems, processes, people, and data. They cut across the whole organisation!
At Nine Feet Tall, we often see organisations underestimate just how challenging ERP transformation can be. Our role is to set you up for success, ease the stress and anxiety associated with ERP transformation, and be a critical friend to keep you transformation on track to deliver the new system and increase ERP adoption.
Why So Many ERP Projects Fail
The track record of companies delivering these types of projects is extremely poor. Around 70% of projects fail to deliver their benefits (McKinsey), while 75% of executives believe their projects will fail before they even begin (Geneca).
Poor ERP communication is often cited as a major contributor to these failures, as stakeholders are not adequately informed or engaged throughout the project.
So, what can you do to make sure your project is a success?
Below are nine of the most common ERP implementation challenges and how hiring an ERP consultant can help overcome them.
1. Finding the right software
One of the first challenges is selecting the right ERP solution.
There are many ERP systems on the market, but choosing the right one requires careful evaluation. It is not only about the technology. You also need the right implementation partner who understands your organisation, goals and future requirements.
Hiring an ERP consultant at this stage ensures the selection process is structured and based on business needs rather than sales presentations.
Best practices for ERP selection
- Speak directly with existing customers using the system
- Conduct site visits where possible
- Assess real-world implementation outcomes
- Evaluate vendor support and long-term capabilities
Organisations working with Nine Feet Tall benefit from independent expertise that helps cut through vendor marketing and focus on practical outcomes.
Cost should never be the sole decision factor. Cultural alignment, delivery capability and trust are equally important when selecting your ERP partner.
2. Getting executive buy-in
ERP transformations require visible leadership from the top.
Executive sponsorship ensures the project remains a strategic priority and that key decisions can be made quickly. Without leadership engagement, ERP projects often stall or lose direction.
Hiring an ERP consultant can help leadership teams understand the organisational impact of ERP change and maintain alignment throughout the programme.
At Nine Feet Tall, executive engagement is a central pillar of our ERP solution to deliver a successful ERP transformation.
3. Strong project management
ERP programmes are large, complex initiatives requiring strong governance and structured delivery.
Without experienced project management, organisations risk delays, budget overruns and poor system adoption.
A skilled ERP project manager will:
- Plan delivery phases clearly
- Identify risks early
- Manage dependencies across teams
- Maintain stakeholder communication
Many organisations choose hiring an ERP consultant specifically to bring experienced ERP project leadership into the programme.
Explore our key ERP project management tools and techniques.
4. Streamline Business Processes
ERP systems can be heavily customised, but this can introduce unnecessary risk.
Customisation increases:
- Implementation complexity
- Upgrade challenges
- Long-term maintenance costs
Instead of recreating existing processes within the new system, organisations should focus on simplification.
When hiring an ERP consultant, businesses gain access to proven best practices that allow them to adopt standard processes wherever possible.
At Nine Feet Tall, we encourage organisations to streamline processes before implementation to maximise ERP value. Getting this setup from the outset is a critical part of ensuring ERP ROI.
Check out our blog ‘Why ERP Projects Go Off Track – And How to Fix Them‘
5. Managing people and change
Technology change always affects people.
ERP implementations introduce new processes, workflows and responsibilities. Without proper communication and engagement, resistance can slow adoption.
A clear change strategy should include:
- Early communication with stakeholders
- Clear explanation of benefits
- Training plans for different user groups
- Ongoing support during transition
Hiring an ERP consultant provides experienced change leadership that helps teams adopt new systems successfully.
6. Managing scope change
ERP systems span the entire organisation, which means new requirements often emerge during the project.
While flexibility is important, uncontrolled changes can quickly derail delivery timelines and budgets.
Strong governance ensures every change request is evaluated based on:
- Cost
- Time
- Business impact
Organisations often benefit from hiring an ERP consultant who can manage scope effectively and prevent scope creep.
7. Data Migration Challenges
If you are replacing an existing ERP system, data migration is unavoidable.
Legacy data is often:
- Outdated
- Inconsistent
- Stored in incompatible formats
- Preparing data for a new ERP system requires significant effort.
When hiring an ERP consultant, organisations gain support in assessing which data should be migrated, archived or cleansed before implementation.
Well-structured data also improves reporting and decision-making once the new system is live.
If you are replacing an ERP system it will undoubtedly mean that ‘old’ data needs to be migrated. This is often out of date, in an unusual format, or does not reflect new ways of working. Time should be allocated to reviewing legacy data and making decisions about its relevance.
A new ERP system will also need a tight definition of categories, lists, drop downs and values – a big task – and an important one as this will ultimately drive how you can slice and dice reports and manage information.
Learn more about how an ERP system can improve business efficiency.
8. Testing the ERP system
Testing is one of the most critical phases of ERP implementation.
It ensures the system functions correctly and supports the business processes defined during planning.
Testing should include:
- System functionality testing
- Integration testing
- Data validation
- End-to-end business process testing
Rushing this stage often leads to serious issues after go-live. Hiring an ERP consultant ensures the testing process is structured and comprehensive.
9. Training and user adoption
Even the most advanced ERP system will fail if employees are not trained properly.
Training programmes should include:
- Role-based system training
- Process-specific guidance
- Documentation and reference materials
- Ongoing support after launch
At Nine Feet Tall, training is treated as a key success factor rather than a final step in the project.
Explore our ERP Implementation services.
Why Hiring an ERP Consultant Improves ERP Success
ERP projects affect every part of an organisation. From technology and processes to people and data, the complexity is significant.
This is why many organisations choose hiring an ERP consultant to guide them through the journey.
Working with experienced ERP specialists provides structured delivery, proven frameworks and independent expertise that reduce risk and improve outcomes.
If your organisation is considering ERP transformation, hiring an ERP consultant can be the difference between project failure and long-term success.
For more information about implementing an ERP system, get in contact with the Nine Feet Tall team today.
